CURRENT DEVELOPMENT SITUATION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides information on the performance of the Municipality with regards to the implementation of the Assembly’s Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2006-2009 under the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. Assessment of performance has been analyzed
under the various thematic areas on yearly bases the targets and achievements. The key problems and challenges encountered during implementation as well as lessons learnt has also been
elaborated.   

Besides these, the chapter focuses on the development situation of the municipality and analyzes various development issues that may have contributed positively or negatively to the development aspirations and prospects of the Municipal Assembly. The issues include the physical and natural environment with special emphasis on natural endowment that may support specific development interventions.

Also included in this chapter are the demographic characteristics of the municipality that will enable the Assembly identify development gaps, make realistic projections, estimate for social infrastructure and target specific groups of people in its development efforts.

In addition, the economic and social settings, institutional arrangements and spatial analysis among other things are considered to unravel the Assembly’s competitive advantage for the success of the various programmes and projects earmarked for the plan period.

The state of education, health services and agriculture has also been analyzed and problems and challenges have been identified to enable the Assembly formulate interventions to remedy the situation over the four-year plan period.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Implementation of MTDP 2006-2009 Under GPRS II
The Assembly’s Medium Term Development Plan 2006-2009 was prepared to guide development over a four-year plan period. There were about 227 planned interventions in the document in the areas of education, health, sanitation, waste management, roads, agricultural projects, public education on civic responsibilities and development control among others. Also included in the plan were human resource development and revenue mobilization strategies.

To track implementation, progress reports were prepared annually of which challenges were identified for management’s consideration. It is however imperative to state that most of the administrative challenges that were identified were never addressed to facilitate implementation. These included inadequate logistic support, inadequate office accommodation and office equipment. Also, certain departments lacked the requisite staff to support implementation as well as monitor development activities.

The performance of the municipality with regards to the implementation of projects and programmes has been detailed in table 1.1 under the thematic areas of:

• Private Sector Competitiveness
• Human Resources Development
• Good Governance and Civic Responsibility

A critical look at the table 1.1 for the performance review indicates that most construction projects in the areas of education were either not implemented or are ongoing at the end of the plan period. Of most importance is the construction of early childhood development centers (ECHDs). Even though ECDCs are part of the mainstream educational programme the Municipality lack public day care centers. This was therefore to be addressed in the plan under review but not even one was constructed. The construction of five number, three storey educational facilities were however initiated but funding has been a challenge to its completion.

Another area that the municipality did not perform very well is the area of employment creation under the youth employment project. Out of the 500 jobs to be created in the four years, 192 were created. The municipality would therefore need to re-prioritize the modules and ensure that the youth benefit.

In addition, the creation of jobs in the informal sector through the improvement and completion of market infrastructure could not be implemented. The municipality however succeeded in preparing and floating a business plan for the Haatso market but is yet to receive a favuorable response.

In the area of agriculture, the implementation of projects captured in the plan was quite good. The Assembly was able to organize the yearly farmers’ day and even increased the number of award winners from fifteen to seventeen. The target for training of farmers on improved seeds and planting materials exceeded its target with 208 farmers benefiting in 2009. Target was also exceeded in the training of Farmer based organizations in safe use of agro chemicals.

In the area of health, a total of 14,800 Insecticide Treated Bed nets (ITNs) were distributed free to 0-11 month’s olds and pregnant women. Madina Polyclinic (Kekele) was also provided with a maternity block and a laboratory facility. On HIV/AIDs a strategic plan was successfully prepared as planed and has guided activities since. In addition Programme for the periodic de-worming of school children was also implemented.

Most roads  construction projects were also implemented under the supervision of the Departments of Feeder Roads and Urban Roads. Some were however still under construction or at a halt at the end of the plan period. Details of performance review are given in table 1.1.

Key Problems/Issues Encountered During Implementation
Implementation of interventions captured in the MTDP 2006-2009 were faced with various problems and difficulties. The problems included poor institutional arrangements, inadequate staffing as well as financial difficulties. The key problems were recorded in the Annual Progress Reports (APRs) for managements’ consideration. The problems/issues included the following.

1. Poor management of the implementation processes
2. Inadequate human resources for supervision and support
3. Lack of and inadequate office equipment
4. Delays in the release of funds
5. Data was collected too late to be used for major decision making
6. Rapid urbanization affected the availability of farm lands and lands earmarked for projects
7. Some departments were overambitious in the selection of projects
8. Too many contracts awarded with little or no recourse to cash flow
9. Boarder disputes leading to duplication of efforts
10. Lack of or inadequate funds for project implementation

Lessons Learnt
The Municipal Assembly and its decentralized departments and Agencies through the preparation, organization of implementation and monitoring of the MTDP 2006-2009 learnt a couple of lessons that need to be factored into the preparation and implementation of the MTDP 2010-2013. The selection of priority projects and programmes, organization of implementation would be guarded seriously by the under listed observations.

1. It has become obvious that funding would continue to be a challenge to implementation. Either they are delayed or would not be available in the right quantities and on time. It is therefore incumbent on implementing departments and Agencies especially when the funds are not controlled internally to start implementation only when the activity is budgeted for and there is enough evidence that funds would be released.
2. The number of projects ongoing at a particular period would also have to be control to ensure that the limited staff can supervise and monitor activities effectively. This would ensure that data is available at the right time and in the right form for analysis and decision making.
3. Institutional arrangements for implementation would have to be strengthened and the political will, commitment and support are very much solicited.
4. The MPCU would have to ensure effective collaboration and coordination of the implementation processes.
5. Departments and Agencies will have to seriously analyze alternative scenarios, processes and strategies for achieving control over the future. The most effective and efficient strategies should be identified and implemented to ensure the attainment of stated goals and objectives.
6. The organization of mid-year and annual review workshops will have to be vigorously pursued since they provide the platform for sharing ideas and also the identification of key collaborators to ensure effective implementation of projects and programmes.

Status of implementation of MTDP 2006-2009
Following the formulation of the Assembly’s MTDP 2006-2009 a series of activities have been initiated to ensure smooth implementation. These included the preparation of the M&E plan and the institutionalization of review meetings to track implementation. It is important to state that some successes have been recorded over the three years that the plan has been operational. This not withstanding, there have been some obvious constraints and challenges which have been enumerated in some portions of this document.  

The status of implementation in the third year however indicates some appreciable improvement in implementation as compared to the year 2007. The number of projects that were ongoing was a real issue of concern to the MPCU because it indicated that resources were thinly spread as well as lags. It is important to state that there are various projects and programmes that were initiated in 2008 even though they were not initially captured in the MTDP. These include a five (5) number twelve seater institutional water closet toilet facilities funded under the community water and sanitation programme (CWSP). Others are an information communication and technology (ICT) and community library projects funded by the Member of Parliament’s Common Fund
(MPsCF).

Other projects were initiated as a result of the alleviation of the District to a Municipality and the subsequent creation of an Environmental Health Department, Public Health Unit. This department has initiated a series of public health related projects and programmes which are also being monitored.  

A detailed analysis of the status of implementation as at 2008 is given in table 1.1 and figures 1.1 to 1.8 in subsequent pages.

The DMTDP has been operational since 2006. The plan includes various programmes and projects as categorized under the three pillars of the GPRS II; Priorities for Private sector competitiveness, Human Resource Development, Good Governance and Civic responsibility. These programmes/projects are at various stages of implementation. Some have been completed and include the following.

• Operationalisation of the Mutual health Insurance scheme in all public facilities in the Municipality
• Prepare HIV/AIDS strategic Plan
• Completion of Maternity block at Madina Clinic
• Construction of 6No. WC toilet facilities in 5schools
• Construction of 2No. KVIP toilets in 2 schools
• Rehabilitation of seven schools
• Construction of 2-storey Area Council office at Dome
• Rehabilitation of District Magistrate Court
• Rehabilitation of Ashalley Botwe Lorry park (Madina)
• Train 45 midwives from private and public health facilities
• Provide laboratory services in 2 health facilities
• Sources funds and technical support from NGOs to finance and promote women’s groups
• Train farmers in alternative livelihood programmes
• Set up demonstration farms
• One child panel established
• Formation and sustenance of Civic education clubs in schools
• Construction of 6No culverts
• Rehabilitation of selected roads in North Legon
• Partial reconstruction and drainage works on Dome by pass (Mobil) and Coleman bakery road, Madina
• Gravelling and re-gravelling works at West Haatso, Madina, Taifa and Agbogba.

Pillar by pillar performance since 2006 indicates that under the Priorities for private sector competitiveness, fifty nine (59) projects out of the total of one hundred and twenty nine (129), representing 45% of the projects have been completed. Fifty one (51) representing 40% are ongoing whilst the remaining nineteen representing 15% are outstanding. This is well illustrated in figure 1.2 and 1.3 respectively.

Refer to the pdf file for tables below.